History of methods and theory

Author: Li Zhenhong
Publisher: Henan University Press
Introduction:
Any science, as it develops and matures, must achieve two things: one is in-depth research into its object of study, and the other is in-depth research into the discipline itself. Moreover, the level of development of the latter indicates the maturity of the discipline. In other words, the development of a discipline requires continuous self-reflection and understanding, gradually transforming this reflection and understanding into a systematic knowledge system to provide conscious theoretical guidance for the discipline's further progress. Historical science is no exception. The theory of historical science is the theoretical product of historical science's self-reflection, self-correction, and self-awareness.
Historical science's self-reflection begins with clarifying its own nature, that is, answering the question "What is historical science?" or "What is the essence of historical science?" In other words, historical science should first engage in ontological reflection. The study of historical science is a form of human cognitive activity. People need to draw on necessary cultural qualities from historical knowledge, society needs historical science as a guide for its activities, and humanity needs to understand itself through its own history. Therefore, historical cognition is an indispensable form of human cognition and part of the overall social practice of humanity. Although it is a phenomenon of ideology, it is undoubtedly an objective existence and can and should be an object of cognition for which ontological research can be conducted.
Table of Contents:
Conclusion
Part I Ontology of Historiography
Chapter 1 What is History?
Chapter 2 The Basis for Historical Science Being a Science
Chapter 3 The Characteristics and Tasks of Historical Science
Chapter 4 The Discipline Structure within Historical Science
Chapter 5 Historical Science and General Social Sciences
Chapter 6 The Functions and Roles of Historical Science
Part II Epistemology of Historiography
Chapter 7 The Subjective Consciousness of Historians
Chapter 8 The Objective Category in Historical Cognition
Chapter 9 The General Forms of Historical Cognition
Chapter 10 Historical Re-Cognition and Its Driving Factors
Chapter 11 The Verification of Historical Cognition
Part I Ontology of Historiography
Chapter 1 What is History?
Chapter 2 The Basis for Historical Science Being a Science
Chapter 3 The Characteristics and Tasks of Historical Science
Chapter 4 The Discipline Structure within Historical Science
Chapter 5 Historical Science and General Social Sciences
Chapter 6 The Functions and Roles of Historical Science
Part II Epistemology of Historiography
Chapter 7 The Subjective Consciousness of Historians
Chapter 8 The Objective Category in Historical Cognition
Chapter 9 The General Forms of Historical Cognition
Chapter 10 Historical Re-Cognition and Its Driving Factors
Chapter 11 The Verification of Historical Cognition
Part III Methodology of Historiography
Chapter 12 Historical Materialism and the Construction of Historiographical Methodology
Chapter 13 The Historical Principle in Historical Research
Chapter 14 The Theory and Methods of Evaluating Historical Figures
Chapter 15 The Theory and Methods of Class Struggle and Class Analysis
Chapter 16 The Theory and Methods of Cultural History Research
Chapter 17 The Theory and Methods of Ethnic Relations History Research
Chapter 18 The Theory and Methods of Historiographical Criticism
Chapter 19 The Theory and Methods of Comparative Historical Research
Chapter 20 The Theory and Methods of Quantitative History
Chapter 21 The Theory and Methods of Psychological History
Chapter 22 The Theory and Methods of Historical Hypothesis Research
Chapter 23 The Theory and Methods of Using Historical Materials
Postscript after the First Edition
Postface after the Revised Edition